"Nie gehörte, nie geahndete Wunder-Geheimnisse der heiligen Kunst"

May 4-6, 2024
Kammermusiksaal (Chamber Music Hall) of Beethoven-Haus Bonn

May 7, 2024 marks the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s great academy in the Kärntnertortheater, where the Ninth Symphony was premiered on a programme with the overture to "Die Weihe des Hauses" and three movements from the "Missa solemnis". To mark this anniversary, the Research Center Beethoven-Archiv is organizing an international conference together with Birgit Lodes (University of Vienna). International scholars will explore connections between these works (usually seen monolithically as Beethoven’s last compositions in their respective genres) in the context of their stylistic and aesthetic conception, their cultural-political significance, and the challenge they present to interpreters and listeners, both then and now. A particular focus will be on new insights into the performance situation, room acoustics, listener perspectives, and reception outside of Europe.

Top-class scientists from North and South America, Hong Kong, New Zealand and several European countries are expected to attend, including the Beethoven experts Erica Buurman, Hans-Joachim Hinrichsen, William Kinderman, David Levy, Nancy November and John Wilson, the historians Franz Fillafer and Axel Körner, the acoustician Stefan Weinzierl and the Schubert researcher Andrea Lindmayr-Brandl. In addition to lectures, a project presentation and two roundtables are planned.

The conference events are open to the public. Admission is free.

Conference programme

Press Contact
Michael Forst
m.forst@europressedienst.com
Tel.   +49 228 91254840
Tel.   +49 172-8584604

Ursula Timmer-Fontani
Beethoven-Haus Bonn
Timmer-fontani@beethoven.de
Tel. + 49 (0) 228 98175-16

About the Beethoven-Haus Bonn: Founded in 1889, the Beethoven-Haus Bonn Association is regarded as the leading international Beethoven centre. It has set itself the task of keeping Beethoven's life, work and influence alive. The cultural institution includes the world's most important Beethoven collection, the museum in Beethoven's birthplace with over 100,000 visitors per year (before corona), a musicological research department, library and publishing house as well as the Hermann J. Abs Chamber Music Hall. Supported by over 700 friends, sponsors and members from over 20 countries, supported by the federal government, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Rhineland Regional Association and the federal city of Bonn, the Beethoven-Haus fulfils a cultural mission of national and international importance. The violinist Daniel Hope has been President since March 2020.